The forest took a long breath following the actions it had witnessed, contemplating them before their boughs broadcast sudden raucous justice and rumour between them, onwards, over and down the mountain side with praise in the passing of enemies. Saplings would be told of this night until only the tallest held it, and after which might come the quiet persistence of legend among those reaching for where their fore-boughs had been before. A significant night in the keeping of these things, and it remained still ongoing for the four lives left among the plain, still alight by star and the soulful fire of their participation. Rubus had taken his time in joining the group, his rifle loose but lively. Sophia remained over her brother, but Clyde was now prostrate and rubbing soil between his hands. Rubus left them each to their all and stood by, close in prayer and loaded with sharp ears, his blood running whilst all around him was decompression, filth and thanks. He had never been to this part of Vaudeville before, and now he considered his duties here to be nearing complete, he could not deny that he enjoyed the plain and the spectacle of the shear mountain peak rearing over him, the rising moon casting a cool over the night.

Until Clyde rose and Rubus could gauge the monk’s face, he ran quick on reaction. Reactions had kept him alive through the civil conflict; they were his deepest thanks, and the last thing which he was willing to submit for a moment’s rejoice. His eyes cast over Christopher with a familiarity in seeing those folks who had been between the seen and the unseen; the sudden sad tones of those people as they crept back into the world.

There was an audible exhalation then as Clyde made peace with returning also. He had long known unseen places and walked them with familiarity greater than he did among the world that he had been born into.

He turned and looked up from the ground to Rubus and pressed his hands into the soil, pushing himself up. They looked over Sophia and Christopher for some time then and Rubus waited for instruction only for Clyde to become distracted with his demon. He had held out his dirty hand and the demon took it in its flickering claw. Some quiet words were spoken and the demon chased up his arm and sat on his left shoulder.

‘What do we think?’ asked Rubus and after a silence Clyde went to Sophia and placed a hand upon her back. She had walled herself inside her hymnal and took sudden breaths as she felt the hand, but she did not turn to face him until he reassured her with a sombre smile that leapt from behind his beard.

‘You have done so very well, Sophia… now if you would please let me see what he has left.’

Sophia wiped at her eyes and went to stand as Clyde gently turned Christopher onto his back, the man exhaling in long and distant sounds which might have been mistaken for a life ending. His wet eyes were open, as was his mouth, which Clyde delicately closed before holding his right hand over his face until further life magnified in the man and he took his hand away. Christopher drew a long breath and stared naked of heart into the night and across a display of stars. He groaned a little before his head turned to see his sister, the monk, and the other man. Clyde came low to his side.

‘Christopher… dear boy, hear me… we are taking you to safety. We were sent to find you, and find you we have! You are alive by a slender chance, and I would celebrate with you if you had the strength. We will take you the rest of the way, Christopher!’

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Christopher pointed then, vague about his finger, but clear to a rough point on Clyde’s shoulder where his demon balanced itself. Clyde smiled and took his hand.

‘He is safe too,’ he said. ‘And you will be safe together on the way, I promise you.’ He let go his hand then and as he did so, Sophia stepped around her brother and came to his other side. Clyde met her eyes.

‘We will help him walk,’ he said and she looked over him before her eyes returned to his.

‘I will carry my burden,’ she said, and he nodded while his eyes considered it.

‘At least permit me to try and help a man to his feet.’

She smiled and Rubus reached down before Clyde to lift Christopher in a tangle which ended in him standing loosely with Sophia at his shoulder. There was in him an immediate sense that he would fall, but his legs held, and although he remained strained, he was upright and took long breaths up into his nostrils as a breeze began to move through from the eastern side.

Clyde turned back and looked up to the peak of the mountain, with further ranges beyond. Rubus came to his side and handed him the unused blessed bullets which Clyde took and let fall into his pocket.

‘What do we think?’ Rubus asked, and Clyde took a long breath.

‘It appears that we have left this corner of Vaudeville to neglect for some time, Rubus. That is what we think.’

‘Civil war, Clyde…’

‘Yes… But while we are in this corner it is prudent to the spirit that we continue. That demon was pernicious, even for their kind, and suspicion says that there will be others milling about in those high places. We will go and see. When Christopher is with the Abbot, and we have settled things with him, go send word of our movements to the Ark Bishop. Tell him of tonight and inform him of our subsequent passage to the mountains. We will expect to be no more than a month or two.’

He smiled then.

‘The feast of The Three Doors is in two days. We ought to pack a preparation for that one at least. Then we’ll see how we do from there.’